Comprehensive Pet Dental Care
Routine pet dental care is a critical component of an animal's oral and overall health; unfortunately, most pets don't get the oral hygiene care they need to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
At our Leighton veterinary hospital, we provide preventive and medical dental care for your pet, from basics like dental exams and teeth cleanings to dental X-Rays and surgeries.
We also ensure that pet owners are empowered with the knowledge to care for their pet's oral health between vet visits.
Pet Dental Surgery in Leighton
We understand that learning that your pet needs dental surgery can seem overwhelming. We want to set your mind at ease by making this process as stress-free as possible for you and for your pet.
We'll do our utmost to make sure that your pet has a comfortable, easy experience in our clinic. Before any procedure, we explain each step of the process to you in detail, including preparation and post-operative care requirements.
All Animal Clinic offers jaw fracture repair surgeries, tooth extractions, and gum disease treatment for pets and other animals.
Pet Teeth Cleaning & Exams
Much as we ourselves should, our pets should be seen by a dental professional for a checkup at least once a year. Pets who are more prone to dental problems than others may need to see us more often.
The All Animal Clinic vet team can assess, diagnose and treat dental health problems in Leighton.
- Symptoms
If you notice any of the following symptoms in your pet, don't hesitate to take them in for a dental checkup.
- Buildup of tartar
- Loose and/or broken teeth
- Extra teeth or retained baby teeth
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Unpleasant breath
- Pain or swelling in or around the mouth
- Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- Issues with chewing, excessive drooling or dropping food
- Assessment
Before beginning the dental exam, your vet will conduct a thorough pre-anesthetic physical assessment to ensure that your pet can safely be anesthetized.
We will take blood and urine analyses to confirm that your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. If additional diagnostics are necessary, our in-house diagnostic tools and laboratory enable us to conduct radiographs, ECG, or other tests.
Once your pet is under anesthesia, we will conduct a complete oral examination (tooth by tooth) and charting.
- Treatment
Next, the teeth are cleaned and polished (including under the gum line) and X-rays are taken. We then apply a fluoride treatment to each tooth.
Finally, we apply a dental sealant to ensure protection from plaque attaching to the enamel. If advanced periodontal disease is found, the veterinarian will develop a treatment plan and discuss it with you.
- Prevention
Ideally, a follow-up examination will happen two weeks after the initial assessment,
We will discuss methods of dental care (e.g. brushing your pet's teeth) and your vet can also recommend products that can help improve your pet's oral health.
FAQs About Pet Dental Care
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions from our clients about pet dental care.
- Why does my pet need their teeth cleaned?
Poor or neglected oral health can lead to a range of negative consequences for our pets such as periodontal disease or tooth decay.
Just like in humans, when animals eat, plaque sticks to the surface of their tooth enamel and can quickly build up into tartar if their teeth are not brushed or cleaned regularly.
Plaque buildup and poor oral hygiene can lead to infections in the mouth, periodontal disease, tooth decay, and even loose or missing teeth. Regular dental care is essential to preventing pain or disease in the gums from developing in the first place.
- How can I tell if my pet has oral hygiene issues?
Did you know behavior may be an indication of oral health problems? If your pet is experiencing dental problems, they drool excessively (and the drool may contain pus or blood), or you may notice them pawing at their mouth or teeth. They may also yawn excessively, grind their teeth, or stop grooming sufficiently.
Some other issues Other signs of oral health problems include bad breath, swollen gums, and tooth discoloration. Some pets may even suffer from pain that keeps them from eating. For more information, read about Pet Teeth Cleaning & Exams.
- What are the potential long-term problems related to poor oral health in my pet?
Oral health issues cause a number of issues both in and around the mouth and teeth such as cavities, bad breath or severe periodontal disease, and more severe systemic conditions in the liver, kidney, heart, and other areas throughout your pet's body.
If you've ever experienced the pain of a toothache, you'll understand that your pet may not feel well in general. In addition to causing your animal companion discomfort and pain, diseases related to oral health conditions can shorten their lifespan and quality of life.
This is why regular dental care is so essential to animals' physical health and wellbeing.
- What happens during a pet teeth cleaning?
During your pet’s regular oral exam, the vet will examine their mouth to diagnose any oral health issues or symptoms that require treatment.
The vet will clean tartar and other debris from your pet's teeth. If there are conditions that need to be addressed - such as cavities, gingivitis, or other problems - the vet will explain these to you and advise you on which actions you should take.
Some cases require surgical treatment if the issues are of a more serious nature. Your pet will undergo anesthesia before their dental procedure to ensure they are comfortable and do not experience any pain. However, special care will be needed post-surgery.
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact us
- How can I keep my pet’s teeth clean between dental visits?
You should help upkeep your pet's oral hygiene by brushing their teeth and giving them dental chew toys to play with. These can help eliminate plaque.
Do not allow them to chew on things that will damage their teeth, such as bones, toys or objects that are too hard. Always contact your vet with any questions or concerns regarding your pet's oral health.
Why We Use Anesthesia For Veterinary Dentistry
Pets cannot understand what is happening during dental procedures and often react by struggling or biting. To keep your pets and our staff safe and provide the best care, we administer anesthesia to ensure your animal's comfort.
Like the anesthesia provided to nervous or anxious human patients by their dentists, our Leighton vets provide all of our patients with anesthesia before performing dental procedures. This puts less stress on the animals and allows us to X-Ray their mouth as needed.